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Observations: Dual Group 1-Placed Ancient Rome Set for Chantilly Return

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations feature a trio of Andre Fabre trainees, including a welcome return for Coolmore and Westerberg's dual Group 1-placed Ancient Rome.

14.25 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, c/g, 8f (AWT)
Godolphin's SWING VOTE (GB) (Shamardal) is an Andre Fabre-trained son of G1 Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the March-foaled homebred bay faces nine rivals in this debut. They include Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's Tonal (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who is kin to three black-type performers out of a half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park S. victrix Pas De Reponse (Danzig).

15.35 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, f, 8f (AWT)
Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's ALGOLIA (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), another Andre Fabre-conditioned newcomer of note, is a half-sister to Listed Prix Charles Laffitte victrix Babala (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) produced by G1 Grande Premio Diana (Brazilian Oaks) winner Viva Rafaela (Brz) (Know Heights {Ire}). Her 10 opponents include Ecurie Skymarc Farm's homebred Morgana (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who is out of an untried half-sister to three-time GI Canadian International-winning sire Joshua Tree (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud second Arthur's Kingdom (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), from the Stephane Wattel stable; and Rashit Shaykhutdinov's Meteor Shower (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is a homebred daughter of stakes-winning G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) runner-up Megera (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), representing Fabrice Chappet.

16.45 Chantilly, Cond, €18,000, 4yo, 9f (AWT)
Coolmore and Westerberg's 4-year-old colt ANCIENT ROME (War Front) returns to action for Andre Fabre coming back off a nine-month break, having run ninth in June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club when last seen. The 2021 G3 Prix des Chenes victor, who also hit the board in that season's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International, encounters seven rivals in this low-key affair.

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What’s in a Name: Mr Moliere

4th-Chantilly, $29,000, Debutantes, 2-6, 3yo, c/g, 8f (AWT), 1:39.82, ft. MR MOLIERE (GB) (g, 3, Kingman {GB}–Armande {Ire} {GSW & G1SP-Fr, $222,116}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}). O-Baron Edouard de Rothschild & Lady O'Reilly; B-SC Ecurie de Meautry & Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-M. Guyon.

Horseracing is a game of old. Appropriately, there is so much from the 17th and 18th centuries in the pedigree of Chantilly demolition winner Mr Moliere (GB).

“Monsieur Moliere” for the French race commentator, evidemment.

Moliere was the stage name of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (1622-1673), the French playwright [and actor] dominating the theatre of the times of Louis XIV, who loved and protected him. Armande, the namesake of the dam of the Andre Fabre trainee, was the name of Moliere's young wife, also a famous practitioner of the stage in her own right. And not for nothing there is a full sister in the pipeline baptized Mlle Moliere, the very stage name of Armande Poquelin [1640-1700] and, supposedly, also a yearling filly by No Nay Never carrying the name of Mme de Pomadour, the famous lover of King Louis XV and royal mistress par excellence. All in the [very historical] family.

2nd-Pau, $19,400, 2-5, 5yo/up, 10f (AWT), 2:05.60, ft. MON OURAGAN (FR) (h, 7, Toronado {Ire}–Lady Of The House {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Lifetime Record: 27-10-5-0, $156,532. O-Laurent Dassault; B-Framont Limited, M Matthew & M Beaumont (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-J Eyquem.

The name of multiple French winner Mon Ouragan (Fr) appears to be the result of clever word-play across different languages. But… is it so?

Let's take a step back. Years ago, when I first realized that there was a Group 1-winning horse called Toronado (High Chaparral–Wana Doo, by Grand Slam), I thought that he had been named after the famous 1960s Oldsmobile model, the first U.S.-produced car with front-wheel drive. I was ill-informed. In fact, when I eventually inquired with one of the professionals connected with the Richard Hannon Sr. trainee, she told me that it was named after the horse of Zorro!

Twice true, confirmed Google: “Tornado (occasionally Toronado) is a horse ridden by the character Zorro in several films and books. Tornado is said to be intelligent and fast. His name is pronounced in the Spanish way, 'tor-NAH-do' (except in the 1998 movie The Mask of Zorro)”.

As it happens, tornado is also Spanish for “tornado” and ouragan is French for, “hurricane, tempest, storm.” You do not have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing and understand that the connection is there.

Moral of the story: although there is power in names, names' power depends heavily on how much or how little we know. Phenomenology (the supposed science of how things may present themselves to people) is not my favorite philosophy, but it does win this round.

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Camelot TDN Rising Star Lights Up Chantilly

Thursday's card at Chantilly witnessed Europe's first TDN Rising Star of 2023 as Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd's Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}–Painter's Pride {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) powered to an impressive success in the 9 1/2-furlong Prix du Chateau de la Reine Blanche for unraced 3-year-old fillies. Away smartly under Alexis Pouchin, the 1-2 favourite who is a half-sister to the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal winner and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen third Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal) and who hails from the Wildenstein dynasty of the champion Peintre Celebre was in front before two furlongs had been covered.

Stretching clear in early straight, the Andre Fabre-trained bay was already being eased down a furlong from the finish and was four lengths ahead of the Fabrice Chappet newcomer Crown Princesse (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) there, with another three lengths back to Hasapiko (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) from the Stephane Wattel stable. With no prompting from the saddle during the closing stages, Pensee Du Jour still covered the last three furlongs on the Polytrack in 34.64 seconds and her entries in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Saint-Alary do not look fanciful on this first piece of evidence.

For Camelot, this is a seventh TDN Rising Star, with Sir Dragonet (Ire) and Santa Barbara (Ire) the pick so far. The dam was the 13th foal out of the GII Long Island H. winner Peinture Bleue (Alydar), who proved such a font of success for the Wildensteins with the aforementioned Arc and Prix du Jockey Club hero Peintre Celebre the pick of her offerings. She also provided the stud with the G2 Prix de Pomone scorer Peinture Rare (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the G3 Prix de Barbeville winner Pointilliste (Giant's Causeway) and the listed scorer Peinture Rose (Storm Cat).

Peinture Bleue's winless daughter Pine Chip, a full-sister to Peintre Celebre, is the ancestress of the South African champion Jet Dark (SAf) (Trippi), while other descendants include the G3 JRA Cup winner Desert Icon (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the GIII Fall Highweight H. scorer Hopeful Treasure (Oxbow). The third dam is Petroleuse (Ire), who was successful in the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. and is kin to the champion Pawneese (Ire) and ancestress of the sires Policy Maker (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), Planteur (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}.

3rd-Chantilly, €27,000, Debutantes, 2-16, 3yo, f, 9 1/2f (AWT), 1:56.88, st.
PENSEE DU JOUR (IRE), f, 3, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Painter's Pride (Fr), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Peinture Bleue, by Alydar
3rd Dam: Petroleuse (Ire), by Habitat
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. O-Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Arqana February Mixed Sale Catalogue Sports Wildcards

Three wildcards and 10 supplements have been added to the Arqana February Mixed Sale, which already includes 356 lots.

Leading the wild cards will be Leibovitz (Ire) (lot 50) offered by Christophe Ferland. A winner over 1200 metrers at Chantilly on debut, the 3-year-old daughter of Starspangledbanner (Aus) hails from the family of Group 1 winners Park Appeal (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), Cape Cross (GB), and Diktat (GB), etc.

A pair of broodmares are also wildcards with Rouen Cathedral (GB) (lot 140), who is a daughter of Le Havre (Ire) out of group winner Top Toss (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}), a half-sister to dual group scorer and Group 1-placed Lesstalk In Paris (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). She will be offered in foal to Sottsass (Fr) by Haras des Capucines.

The other is listed winner and G3 Prix de Psyche runner-up, Sainte Amarante (Fr) (lot 160) from the draft of Haras du Pley. The daughter of Le Havre (Ire) hails from the family of Group 1 winners Belardo (Ire) and Kistena (Fr) (Miswaki).

Supplements include the David Farlete runner, Aldufoof (GB) (lot 180B), a half-sister by Bated Breath (GB) to G2 Prix Chaudenay winner Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). Also supplemented will be Slip Sliding Away (Lot 180C), from the Fairway Consignment. The daughter of Camelot (GB) is from the family of G1 Derby/G1 King George hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

The February Mixed Sale will be held on Feb. 14-15. Click here, to view the entire catalogue.

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